@article{ref1,
title="Pre-injury alcohol use and road traffic injury among patients at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda: cross-sectional study",
journal="Journal of the Australasian College of Road Safety",
year="2019",
author="Biribawa, Claire and Kobusingye, Olive Chifefe and Mugyenyi, Possy and Baguma, Ezekiel and Bua, Emmanuel and Alitubeera, Phoebe Hilda and Tumwesigye, Nazarius Mbona",
volume="30",
number="4",
pages="17-25",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Uganda has a high rate of road traffic injuries (RTI). Alcohol use increases traffic injury risk and severity through impairment of road-use skills and hazard perception. Few studies have examined this problem in Uganda. We therefore assessed the prevalence and determinants of pre-injury alcohol use among road traffic injured patients at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala Uganda. <br><br>METHODS: We enrolled 330 eligible adult RTI patients consecutively in a cross- sectional study, at the emergency department in Mulago National Referral Hospital from March-May, 2016. We assessed pre-injury alcohol use using BACtrack professional Breathalyzer, alcohol intoxication assessment tool and alcohol use self- report covering the period of 6 hours before the injury. We assessed injury severity using Glasgow Coma Scale and Kampala Trauma Score. We estimated prevalence ratios [PR] using modified Poisson regression. <br><br>RESULTS: Prevalence of pre-injury alcohol use among injured patients was 29.7%. Pedestrians (44%) had the greatest percentage of alcohol use when compared to other road users. Pre-injury alcohol use was associated with mortality at the Emergency Department, PR: 2.33 [1.39 - 3.9]. <br><br>CONCLUSION and recommendations: Pre-injury alcohol use is high among pedestrians and yet prevention efforts target mostly motorists. Pre-injury alcohol use also resulted into increased mortality at Emergency Department. We recommend prevention efforts to not only target motorists but also pedestrians.   Key Findings • Prevalence of pre-injury alcohol use was 29.7% among road traffic injured patients received at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala Uganda • Pedestrians were more likely to have used alcohol prior to injury compared to other road users, Prevalence ratio: 2.56 [CI: 1.20 - 5.48] • Pre-injury alcohol use was associated with mortality at the emergency department, Prevalence ratio: 2.33[1.39 - 3.90]  Keywords Alcohol, road traffic injuries, traffic deaths, pedestrians  Corresponding author:  Claire Biribawa, Department of Disease control and Environmental Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, P.O Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.  Email: biribawaclaire@musph.ac.ug, Tel: +256777507827 / +256759027400<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1832-9497",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}